Affidavit: Congress threats suspect had ammo, gun receipts

By The Associated PressAugust 5, 2018

A man charged with threatening two Republican congressional leaders had 200 rounds of ammunition at his home in Buffalo, New York, along with books on homemade explosives and receipts for an assault rifle and a handgun, according to court records.

An agent with the U.S. Capitol Police detailed items found during a search of Carlos Bayon’s home in an affidavit filed Friday in U.S. District Court. Bayon was charged last week with leaving threatening phone messages for the lawmakers, identified in reports as GOP Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington state.

U.S. Attorney James Kennedy said investigators believe the threats against the lawmakers are credible. The menacing voicemails said in part: “You are taking ours. We are taking yours.”

The affidavit says investigators searching Bayon’s home found 150 rounds of rifle ammunition and 50 rounds of shotgun shells, NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reported . They found no guns, but discovered a 2004 receipt for an SKS assault rifle and a 1987 receipt for a .38-caliber revolver, according to the affidavit. It said books found in the home included titles on making homemade explosives and crafting silencers for firearms.

Scalise, 52, is the No. 3 House Republican leader and is considered a potential successor to retiring Speaker Paul Ryan. Scalise was among five people wounded last year when a gunman attacked a Republican baseball practice.

Scalise was grievously injured and was hospitalized for more than a month. He now relies largely on crutches and an electric scooter to move around the Capitol. Capitol Police and other officers killed the gunman in that attack.

Authorities did not name the lawmakers Bayon is accused of threatening. But Scalise spokesman Chris Bond confirmed Thursday that Scalise received a threat. McMorris Rodgers also received a threat, according to a congressional aide who spoke on condition of anonymity because she said U.S. Capitol Police asked staffers to not comment publicly. McMorris Rodgers is the House GOP’s No. 4 leader.